Offering students the opportunity to join a “rock band” after school will provide them with a structured environment in which to learn how to play an instrument, work as a team, and express themselves creatively. The focus of the band will be primarily to develop camaraderie between the students and help them learn to effectively communicate with each other and work together towards the common goal of performing a concert at the conclusion of the camp.
Students will receive a brief history on the origins of rock and roll and develop a healthy appreciation for the genre and the transformations it has undergone throughout the decades. They will be exposed to the idea of creating and writing their own song as a form of self-expression and to make a statement on a particular issue. They will work together closely to select their band name, style and design aesthetics, and will learn the importance of forming a cohesive unit and listening to one another.
Each musical instrument will receive its own instruction, and all students in the class, regardless of what they are playing, will be educated on the importance of each piece in the band. This will reinforce the idea that every player is critical to the success of the group. Students will be responsible for practicing their parts of the song outside the classroom as well, which will hone their discipline skills and teach them commitment to the team.
The concert will provide students the opportunity to share what they have created. The goal is for the group as a whole to be overflowing with confidence and to feel proud for what they have achieved. The students will walk away with improved instrumental knowledge, a finely tuned ability to collaborate and cooperate within a team setting, a better understanding of how to harness their own creativity, and the wonderful sensation of having made memories and music to last a lifetime.
